Studying the value of library and information services. Part II. Methodology and taxonomy

This report, presented in two parts, is derived from a large study sponsored by the Council on Library Resources. Two of its objectives were to develop a taxonomy of value‐in‐use of library and information services based on users assessments and to propose methods and instruments for similar studies of library and information services in general. In the first part of the report, we discussed the underlying concepts related to value, which must be clarified to proceed with any pragmatic study of value. This established a theoretical framework, i.e., a theory of use‐oriented value of information and information services. The theory drives the models used for the pragmatic part of the study resulting in a Derived Taxonomy of Value in Using Library and Information Services. In this, the second part, we deal with the specifics of the study: importance of a taxonomy; the method used for gathering data on user assessments of value in five research libraries, involving 18 services and 528 interviews with users; development and presentation of the Taxonomy; and statistics and tests of the Taxonomy. A novel aspect is the division of value of information services into three general classes or facets: (i) Reasons for use of a service in the given instance; (ii) quality of Interaction (use) related to that service; and (iii) worth, benefits, or implications of subsequent Results from use. We conclude the paper with suggestions for applications in practice, particularly in evaluation of services, and general discussions regarding the principles of taxonomic development. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.